Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars wasted no time turning up the drama. During “One Hit-Wonders Night,” emotions ran high as the first eliminations of the season took place. The night was filled with flashy routines, bold song choices, and a tense results reveal that left both the ballroom and social media buzzing.

Judges Carrie Ann Inaba, Derek Hough, and Bruno Tonioli tallied audience votes from the first two weeks alongside their own scores to determine who would stay and who would go. When the dust settled, two celebrities were sent home in what fans called a “ballroom bloodbath.”

The First Cuts of the Season

Actor Corey Feldman and pro partner Jenna Johnson performed a Cha Cha to Sir Mix-A-Lot’s “Baby Got Back,” scoring just 15 out of 30. Former NBA star Baron Davis and Britt Stewart tackled a Samba to Mark Morrison’s “Return of the Mack,” earning 18 points. Both couples found themselves at the bottom of the leaderboard and were promptly eliminated, marking the season’s first casualties.

While their exits stung, it was Hilaria Baldwin’s advancement that really set the internet on fire. Baldwin and her pro partner, Gleb Savchenko, danced a Tango to Haddaway’s ’90s hit “What Is Love.” Their performance scored 21 out of 30, enough to keep them in the competition, but many fans were furious over the outcome.

Viewer Backlash Over Baldwin

Immediately after the results, social media erupted. Some viewers insisted Feldman and Davis were more deserving, with one fan writing, “Yea no, I’m done watching this season since she’s still on. Corey and Baron deserve to be there more than her. My Tuesdays are now free.” Another bluntly declared, “Baron deserved better. Send her home.”

Some fans went even further, questioning Baldwin’s eligibility. Multiple posts claimed she had ballroom training in the past, which they argued gave her an unfair advantage. “It’s not fair,” one commenter wrote. “She shouldn’t even be on the show.”

Yet not everyone shared that sentiment. Supporters came to Baldwin’s defense, insisting her Tango was among the strongest performances of the night. One fan countered, “She had the best dance of the night. My opinion is purely based on her dance. Just saying!” Another added, “Best dance of the night! Should have been a higher score.”

Leaderboard Highlights

Beyond the controversy, several couples shone on the dance floor. At the top of the leaderboard, four pairs tied with the highest score of 22 out of 30:

• Jen Affleck and Jan Ravnik with a crisp Quickstep

• Olympic gymnast Jordan Chiles and Ezra Sosa with an energetic Jive

• Social media star Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas with a strong Cha Cha

• Wildlife conservationist Robert Irwin and Witney Carson with a crowd-pleasing Tango

Meanwhile, comedian Andy Richter and Emma Slater scored just 16 for their Tango, leaving them in dangerous territory heading into next week.

Emotional Goodbyes

The two eliminated celebrities shared heartfelt farewells. Feldman admitted he felt especially bad for his partner. “Jenna is amazing. I feel terrible because she deserved better. She was the queen last year, and she deserves to be the champ every year in my book.”

Davis, meanwhile, expressed gratitude for his partner’s support. “I haven’t been coached in a while, so to get off my butt was awesome,” he said, adding that his main motivation was to make Stewart proud.

Robert Irwin Steals the Spotlight

Though Baldwin’s advancement drew controversy, Robert Irwin has quickly become the breakout star of the season. During the premiere, he and Carson wowed with a safari-themed Jive to Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild.” Launching himself off a Land Rover to begin the routine, Irwin twirled, kicked, and dipped his way into fan-favorite status.

Judge Derek Hough—who once won the mirrorball trophy with Irwin’s sister, Bindi—was stunned. “That was one of the best first dances I’ve ever seen on this show,” he declared. Fans agreed, flooding social media with predictions that Irwin could go all the way.

Feldman Faces Harsh Criticism

While Irwin soared, Feldman struggled. His Tango with Johnson to Billy Joel’s “It’s Still Rock & Roll to Me” was met with brutal criticism online. Viewers called the performance “painful to watch” and suggested Feldman lacked rhythm despite knowing the steps. One harsh critic predicted, “Next week he’s gonna go. He and Andy are the first to go.” Unfortunately for Feldman, that prediction came true even earlier than expected.

The early eliminations and the uproar surrounding Baldwin’s survival have set the tone for what promises to be a dramatic season. With rising stars like Robert Irwin dazzling audiences and passionate fans debating every result, Dancing With the Stars Season 34 is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about seasons in recent memory.